Flyers not putting pressure on top pick Provorov

VOORHEES, N.J. — Ivan Provorov understands that being the No. 7 overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft last month brings a set of expectations.

Provorov said the Flyers have expressed few expectations for him at the 2015 Development Camp, which began Tuesday at the Virtua Flyers Skate Zone and runs through Sunday.

"They just said to enjoy the time and to try to get better in all aspects of the game," said 18-year-old Provorov, originally from Yaroslavl, Russia. "That's why all the guys are here."

Provorov showed his commitment to play in the NHL, whether this season or in the future, by signing an entry-level contract Friday.

Flyers general manager Ron Hextall urged everyone, however, to resist reading too much into the signing.

Hextall simply won't rush Provorov, nor any of the other 12 defensemen in this camp, into full-time duties.

"If you go through the history of the game and young defensemen that played at young ages and the path they've gone on, it's dangerous," Hextall said. "If someone is going to play, we're going to be pretty ... sure that they're able to play."

So for now, besides daily improvement, Provorov is keeping it simple: "To have fun and to get to know all the guys a little better," Provorov said.

Coming from the Western Hockey League, Provorov is familiar with at least one face in Development Camp.

Provorov and Travis Sanheim, the Flyers' top draft choice last year (17th overall) and also a defenseman, played last year in the WHL: Sanheim for the Calgary Hitmen and Provorov for the Brandon Wheat Kings.

"It feels a little more comfortable knowing that we played against each other," Provorov said. "So we can talk about our league, and it's easier to get comfortable [playing] with him. He's a really good two-way player."

Sanheim, 19, was glad to compare their relative strengths.

"[Provorov] plays a very smart game, and we like to play offense," Sanheim said. "We have a lot of similarities; we both make a good first pass.

"But he is a steady guy on the back end, and I like to think that I carry the puck more and use my feet more."

Both players had similar statistics last season. Each scored 15 goals for their respective WHL teams and finished close in points — 65 for Sanheim compared with 61 for Provorov.

With the departures in the past year of Kimmo Timonen, Braydon Coburn and Nick Grossman — all through trades — opportunities exist for anyone who can impress the coaching staff, whether now at Development Camp or training camp.

With Hextall's desire to promote young players only after they're ready, if Provorov is on the opening-night roster Oct. 8 in Tampa, he will have earned it.

"I will try to make the team this year. I'm going to work hard this summer and see what happens in September," Provorov said. "If I don't make the team, I'll go back to Brandon, and we'll have a good team there."